HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Pottsgrove rallies past Methacton to remain unbeaten

Methacton quarterback Brandon Bossard tries to dive on a fumble in the second quarter against Pottsgrove Saturday. Bossard recovered his own fumble to retain possession for the Warriors. (Kevin Hoffman/Journal Register News Service)

FAIRVIEW VILLAGE — Sometimes it’s better to pontificate than illustrate.

That’s the approach Rick Pennypacker and his assistants took during intermission of Saturday afternoon’s Pioneer Athletic Conference game at Methacton.

The unbeaten (and thus far barely touchable) Falcons were a listless and punchless bunch in the first half. Except for one big play — Mark Dukes’ 56-yard touchdown run — they struggled on offense. For the first time this season, their first-team defense was scored on.

And, believe it or not, they trailed at halftime, 14-7.

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At the break, neither Pennypacker nor anyone else on his staff scribbled a thing on the board, didn’t adjust or alter the game plan one bit ... but they sure had something to say.

The Falcons listened, then responded with three unanswered scores in the second half for a 27-14 win to retain their share of the PAC-10 lead with Perkiomen Valley.

“We peeled some paint off the walls,” Pennypacker said of their barking at the break. “Our kids heard from every coach. We did nothing. We didn’t make any adjustments. We didn’t write any Xs or Os on the board. We just challenged their character.”

Pottsgrove (5-0, 6-0 overall) took the second-half kickoff and put together a meticulous 16-play, 80-yard drive that took 7:50 to complete. Dukes went up inside from four yards out to get his team back to even at 14-14. Then, after Michael Fowler’s interception thwarted Methacton’s ensuing possession, Pottsgrove was back at it again. This time it took 10 plays to cover 80 yards, with quarterback Tory Hudgins accounting for the final 12 that gave Pottsgrove its first lead of the game, 21-14, with 6:13 remaining in the game.

That would actually be enough because Methacton gained exactly zero net yards in its final two possessions, and Pottsgrove took advantage of a five-yard, wind-blown shank of a punt in between them to set up Hudgins’ second score — a four-yard run — with only 2:47 left.

“We just got back to the basics,” said Hudgins, who carried 19 times for 93 yards in support of Dukes’ 16 carries, 127 yards and two scores. “In the first half our heads just weren’t in the game. We knew Methacton was a good team, but we were just lackadaisical in that first half. We just weren’t ready.

“Methacton came ready to play, and I think we did, too. But we didn’t match their intensity until the second half. We executed in the first half, but we played Pottsgrove football in the second half. Overall, the whole team stepped up in the second half.”

In the nick of time.

The Warriors (2-3, 2-4 overall) sure were ready at the outset. They took the opening kickoff and marched 60 yards — getting help when Pottsgrove jumped offsides in a fourth-and-two situation — getting on the board when Brandon Bossard hit Dillon Alderfer on a 19-yard slant for a touchdown 3:58 in. After Akeem Wolcott picked off a Hudgins pass three plays later, they seemed to be on their way to another score before a sack and offensive interference penalty halted the drive.

Dukes took off on his 56-yarder with 17 seconds left in the opening quarter to get Pottsgrove back to even. However, it only took Methacton two snaps to take the lead back as Bossard found Cooper Given on a 77-yard bomb to create the 14-7 advantage.

But the Warriors, who were without center Mike McGoldrick (injury), were no match for the Falcons from that point on.

“(Pottsgrove) opened up that second half and did what they’re typically known for — running the ball,” said Methacton head coach Paul Lepre. “To a degree, they wore some of our guys down.

“It certainly was frustrating. Pottsgrove is a team we’ve yet to beat since we’ve joined the (PAC-10). Last year we lost by two (points) up there, and today it was a one-touchdown game until the end. It was close, but...”

But a game of two halves.

Methacton, which got 72 yards rushing and 121 yards passing from Bossard, had over 200 yards of offense in the first half ... and just 38 yards overall in the second half. Pottsgrove had only 113 yards in the first half ... but moved the chains 13 times for 187 yards in the second half.

“Adversity hit us, so we knew we had to step it up in the second half,” Hudgins said.

“We knew coming in this was a trap game,” added Pennpacker. “Our kids were coming off a big win (over previously unbeaten Spring-Ford) and they were out of their routine playing on a Saturday afternoon.

“Our kids needed to be tested, though. Now they’re realize you can’t take anyone lightly. And all the credit goes to Methacton, because they came out in the first half and took it to us. Our kids needed a game like this. We’re just fortunate they responded.”

NOTES

Patrick Finn and Riley Michaels were credited with sacks for Pottsgrove, which got a team-high 12 tackles from Jeff Adams and nine more from Zach Birch. ... In addition to Wolcott, Given had an interception for Methacton. ... The Falcons’ secondary — Fowler, Qwhadir Miller, Jalen Mayes and Michaels — had a second straight solid showing as Bossard (6 of 21) found little space between himself and his receivers to throw into. ... Pottsgrove starter Marquis Barefield reportedly fractured his collarbone in the first half and may be lost for the season.